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The Cannabis Licensing Authority has sought to defend its actions in respect of recent importation of ganja from Canada, saying it has facilitated such imports only in accordance with gazetted regulations.
The CLA, in a statement on Friday, said under the terms of the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Import, Export, Transit and Trans-shipment) Regulations, 2022, it has approved four authorisations for ganja imports and 224 export requests.
The CLA was responding to the uproar among the parliamentary opposition and participants in the local ganja industry over the importation of the drug from Canada, which they view as a hindrance to the growth of the fledgling local industry.
Industry & Commerce Minister Aubyn Hill revealed on Friday that the importer is a Jamaican company with five start-ups for which the ganja is being imported. He said the strains being imported are not available locally.
Mr Hill also stated that the weight of the shipment is more than 100 kilogrammes.
The CLA did give details on the shipment but said the Dangerous Drugs Regulations empower it to grant permits for the importation, export, and transhipment of ganja, in quantities determined by the authority, based on each application.
It further explained that each authorisation issued to a licensee permits a single consignment as required by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, to which Jamaica has acceded.
The CLA says the request from the Jamaican company was made in full compliance with the applicable regulations and international treaties, and it is against that background that the import authorization was granted.
Noting its mission to facilitate growth and development in the local medical ganja market, the Authority says it will continue to refine its administrative procedures in the implementation of the provisions of the Regulations.
The CLA facilitates the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and transportation of ganja, for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes.
Concerns noted
In the meantime, the Cannabis Licensing Authority says it understands that the concern expressed by ganja farmers to the import from Canada is in relation to the belief that that country has declined to accept imports from Jamaica.
The CLA says it is unaware of any specific restrictions on importing Jamaican ganja into Canada.
It says nine authorisations for export to Canada have been granted, but that no request has been received since 2020.
Not mutually beneficial
Some stakeholders in the local ganja industry are upset that the arrangements between Jamaican and Canada for shipments of the plant are not mutually beneficial.
Alexandra Chong, CEO of global cannabis company Jacana Jamaica, says she is alarmed at the amount of ganja that is being imported from Canada as she contends it is too large for testing purposes only.
Ms Chong, speaking Friday with host Emily Shields on Radio Jamaica's Hotline, revealed that Canada only accepts importation of ganja weighing less than 20 kilogrammes for testing purposes, noting that her company had participated in that arrangement.
"It's about reciprocity; I think the Jamaican canabis industry would not be so upset... if we were allowed to export to Canada for commercial purposes," she said.
She said clarification is need from the Cannabis Licensing Authority on whether the ganja coming from Canada is to be sold.
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